'Paranormal Activity 3' gets a strong start in midnight showings

"Paranormal Activity 3" opened to an estimated $8 million at midnight screenings at 2,200 locations Thursday night (Oct. 20). That's an improvement on the $6.3 million "Paranormal 2" made in its midnight debut last year. The new movie played in more theaters, but its per-screen average was higher than "Paranormal 2's" as well.

Up next for the new film, a prequel set in the late 1980s, is the $40.7 million "Paranormal Activity 2" grossed in its first weekend last year. It has a better-than-average chance of hitting that mark, considering that the only other big release this weekend is the latest adaptation of
"The Three Musketeers."

Even if "Paranormal 3" doesn't match its predecessor's take for the weekend, it will still make a profit for Paramount. All three films in the series have been produced on the cheap, with the latest clocking in at a reported $5 million. Even by Hollywood accounting standards, it should be in the black by Sunday.